'A FILM BY ABIGAIL' SCREENS AT ICA FORLO-BUDGET MAYHEM11TH LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

My short documentary A FILM BY ABIGAIL screened on the 10th of January 2014 in the official selection for the 11th London Short FIlm Festival as a part of LO-BUDGET MAYHEM at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA, London). According to LSFF it was: "a programme that was specially selected by the LSFF team showcasing 29 out-there gems in just over 100 minutes" and it was a pleasure for me to be a part of. Being selected for a festival of this calibre was my goal throughout 2013, so this is a very satisfying start to the year and I thank the festival for screening the film. The idea to have five minute max, low-budget works entered for free through an alternative submission, with an aim to find hidden obscure shorts that may otherwise not receive exposure; was inspired and welcome. I'm infinitely grateful they had the foresight to try this for their sough-after festival and grateful for the help it will give me as a filmmaker and a director.

Fresh screenings could be on the horizon too. The BAFTA-recognised festival, priding itself on helping filmmakers and their work, asked to have a video link to the film for potential forwarding to other events/festivals/institutions for future programming. This is an incredibly exciting added bonus to an already excellent film festival that holds networking opportunities and workshops, as well as it's individually curated selections of solely British short films.

I can also partially announce that another screening is likely taking place overseas in Denmark! Watch this space for more info on this soon... Follow the progress of the rest of the London Short Film Festival (on until the 19th across the capital) on Twitter@LSFFand to keep up-to-date or chat, follow me@PaulEVernon

Last weekend saw a busy period for two of my short films. At the THIS IS ENGLAND - ENGLISH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL OF ROUEN my short documentary A FILM BY ABIGAIL was screened as an RNC Special Award Nominee, and my latest piece of work THE BODY CANVAS, had its World Premiere at the first ever ZEALOUS X art exhibition in London. A FILM BY ABIGAIL didn't win the award but what a great festival to be a part of, having been selected as a representative of English cinema and also amongst some excellent short works of varying genres. Look at some of the images below to see more.

The premiere of THE BODY CANVAS also went well. To have it's first screening within the Oxo Tower Wharf on the Southbank in London was really a dream come true and a treat after working on the film for a year now. For an unfunded and unpaid piece of work, it offered a genuine sense of reward and satisfaction. The free talks were brilliant too, inspirational and insightful, with an array of distinguished guest speakers involved.

I do however, think a gallery is a strange place to screen. When it's the first time you're showing a film in public, I think you automatically look for reactions from an audience, but it doesn't work the same in these circumstances. The setting doesn't lend itself to that notion, as it's so loose. People walk in and out of the films, casual observers coming and going. A film, with the usual rituals of cinema seats/tickets/viewing the beginning & end as a complete work... are stripped away on this platform, making it equal to the other pieces it shares the space with. It becomes something hanging on a wall, rather than an event in itself. This was different, interesting and unique for me - not a bad thing necessarily - but intriguing as an experience. Of course you saw people looking and enjoying, but I can't help but think the scenes became fragments of the greater whole for them as they move on into their next room; the next piece of work to view and think about. A sort of artistic conveyor belt, to use a crap metaphor.

Thanks for reading - I have more festivals and interviews I'll announce soon! Watch this space! For now, check out some of the Twitter reactions to Zealous X and look at following who I've mentioned in the blog below:

A FILM BY ABIGAIL has been selected to open The Short Cinema Film Festival 2013! The event takes place on the 28th of August at the Phoenix in Leicester and will comprise of a feature-length selection of short films. The documentary is nominated for an award in France in November and this will be a great opportunity to show the film in my hometown and keep things a little local. I'm super pleased to be a part of this and it'll be an honour to be there opening up the evening.

"Leicester’s Film Industry Showcase & Get Together. 'The Short Cinema Film Festival' Returns To Show Some Of The Best Short Films Produced By Filmmakers In The Midlands On The Big Screen."-"This year all films submitted were judged by a panel of independent industry professionals."PHOENIX WEBSITE + ALEXZANDRA JACKSON, FESTIVAL CURATOR

Find out more about The Short Cinema Film Festival 2013 HERE and don't forget that A FILM BY ABIGAIL will screen again in Leicester for DocFilm Fest 2013 in November. AND... look out for another BLOG entry coming pretty soon that'll shed light on the 'Q&A' for MARS-II that I did for an audience in India... with pretty dire results!

With a festival finally in realistic travelling distance & cost, I hope to travel to the French event! It's been quite frustrating to not be able to attend where my films are being shown, so this will be satisfying, perhaps slightly daunting, but ultimately exciting. It'll be especially pleasing to go, as my friend Lawrence Mason @danger_mason will be there too as the producer of 'Echo', vying for the RNC Award as well!